Friday, July 12, 2013

Paleo Chunky Monkey Muffins (Gluten Free). Yum!

Lately I've been on a health kick, but I still want my chocolate! Personally, I think chocolate should be part of the essential food groups. I mean, it has calcium, magnesium, releases endorphins and can aid in heart health. What more can you ask from a delicious little treat?

So, I've been searching for something healthy (sort of healthy) that has chocolate. Lots of chocolate. And that's when I stumbled across the recipe for Chunky Monkey Muffins in my favorite cookbook: Primal Cravings.

Sure, it's a paleo cookbook, but it has some amazing recipes even for non-primal eaters.

Personally, their strawberry shortcake waffles are one of my absolute favorites of all times. I think they are better than their traditional flour counterparts and that says a lot. I love pancakes and waffles. I was hoping to find the same love for these muffins. And I did!

They are moist, chocolatey, with a hint of banana. The walnuts add the perfect little crunch. Personally, if I didn't have a gluten issue I wouldn't care what they are made of because they are so delicious!

So, if you are looking to read about the health benefits of the Chunky Monkey Muffins, let me explain below. But if you don't care and just want chocolate then click this link to get the recipe

Seriously, it's easy, it's good, it's filled with chocolate-- what more do you want?!

Some of the ingredients that they use in the this recipe aren't traditional. The flours and sugars that they use actually slow the glycemic response and they are gluten free! Yay! What does that mean? They don't spike your blood sugar like traditional flours and you can eat them even if you are gluten sensitive. They focus on ingredients that are made from natural sources, like coconuts, which are better tolerated by our bodies.

Benefits of Coconut Sugar:

Contains Inulin, which slows the absorption of sugar in the body and reduces blood sugar spikes

Still contains some fructose which, in excess, can lead to weight gain. So eat in moderation. It will be hard, but you can do it.

Benefits of Coconut Flour:

More filling so you don't feel as if you need to eat as much

Source of lauric acid which helps with thyroid and immune function.

Not a grain so it's gluten and wheat free

It's high in fiber and protein

Benefits of Tapioca Flour:

Gluten free

Reduces bad cholesterol (LDL)

Low in Fat

Disadvantage:

Can elevate blood sugar, but usually only a small amount is used in recipes compared to wheat.

Similar calories as wheat flour

However, these flours are a little special and require special care to yield similar results as traditional flours which is probably why they aren't in the main stream yet. Don't get scared-- they aren't hard to work with. Just different.

Here are some tips:

When working with natural flours (especially coconut flour), it's best to let them sit for a few minutes after you mix them with the wet base so they can absorb and expand fully before you apply heat.

Coconut flour cannot be substituted equally in a normal flour recipe. You need very little compared to traditional wheat flour.

1/4c of coconut flour per 1c of wheat flour

Coconut flour requires eggs (or fat)

General rule: 6 eggs for every 1 cup of coconut flour

Coconut flour is soft, but dense and dry

use other natural flours or add more eggs/fat to help keep moist

Tapioca flour can add a little "crunch" to your recipes

Tapioca flour is one of the few natural flours that bakes up tough so you really should blend it with other flours.

Tapioca flours can help to thicken batter

I hope you love these as much as I do! So good! Seriously.

Personally I like the Ener-G brand for Tapioca Flour. It's really good-- a lot better than Red Mills! You can find it on Amazon if they don't carry it in your local store: Ener G Flour Tapioca Flour

Sherri Griffin

Thanks for checking out my blog. I get serious about a few things in life: animals, chemicals, and food. For the rest I can't promise anything so keep the bar low. For more about me check out my "About Me" page! Happy DIYing!

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You rock for reading all of that. {pats you on back}

Hi there! I’m Sherri! I teach awesome people fun ways to ditch harmful chemicals in their everyday lives. It’s kind of life changing and completely amazing. You should try it!